Broadband seismic background noise at temporary seismic stations observed on a regional scale in the Southwestern United States

Background noise power spectral density (PSD) estimates for 54 PASSCAL Colorado Plateau/Rio Grande Rift/Great Plains Seismic Transect (LA RISTRA) stations were computed using data from 1999 to 2000. At long periods (0.01-0.1 Hz), typical vertical noise levels are approximately 12 dB higher than the nearby Global Seismic Network (GSN) borehole station ANMO, but horizontal power spectral density (PSD) noise levels are approximately 30 dB higher. Long-period noise levels exhibit essentially no spatial correlation along the LA RISTRA transect, indicating that local thermal or atmosphere-driven local slab tilt is the dominant source of noise in this band. Between 0.1 and 0.3 Hz, typical noise levels are dominated by naturally occurring microseismic noise and are essentially identical to those observed at ANMO. At short periods, 0.3-8 Hz, typical noise levels along the network exceed ANMO levels by approximately 15 dB, with the highest levels corresponding to proximity to cultural noise sources. No significant day/night variations were observed in the microseismic band; however, both low- and high-frequency noise levels show an increase of up to 8 dB in median midday versus midnight noise levels. We find that the major shortcomings of these shallow PASSCAL-style temporary vaults relative to a GSN-style borehole installation are increased susceptibility to long-period horizontal (≥20 sec) noise and to surface noise sources above approximately 2 Hz. Although the high-frequency near-surface noise field is unavoidable in shallow vaults, we suggest that increased understanding and mitigation of local tilt effects in shallow vaults offers the possibility of significantly improving the long-period noise environment.